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Tuesday 4 October 2016

Triplets in the Owl Wood

Our little patch of woodland is known in 'Blogland'   as   Owl Wood.      That's not the name you will find on any map of the area, but there are three very good reasons why we call it that.  




These three little Tawny owlets were hatched there, a few years ago.


This is one of the licensed 'owl men' who came to weigh and ring the little owlets.   We felt like proud parents!


This is how they looked the first time they were removed and recorded - we felt so privileged to be able to watch this happening.


A short time later they had grown to this size and looked so much more ... fluffy!


Eventually, they grew to look like this - so beautiful!

Each evening, as I take Dobson out for his final walk, I hear the owls calling round and about and I often wonder whether they could possibly be descendants of one of our owls.  

Since that time the owl box has been home to Magpies and squirrels, but the Tawny Owls seem to avoid it.    We keep our fingers crossed, perhaps one Spring the 'To Let' sign will attract them back again.



Unfortunately, Owl Wood has become home to far too many rats, no doubt attracted by the hens food.     We cannot risk poison, of any kind,  so we are having to resort to other methods.

Life and death in a small patch of woodland.


(Linda of  local-kiwi-alien this one is for you.)

7 comments:

  1. How beautiful those birds are. You were so lucky to see them first hand growing up. How wonderful to hear them around you though their twoo-twit can be quite haunting on a dark night. Thanks for the photos and the report-age.

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    1. Hello Linda, It was thrilling! We also have a big and beautiful Barn Owl who patrols the perimeter of the barley field, his call is quite different. I enjoy their company on my nocturnal ramblings.

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    2. How can the Greeks think these birds bring bad luck! Wise old owls...I hope they are gobbling up all those rats

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  2. Awesome seeing owls like that, a shame them have not returned. As for the rats get the rat traps out & hopefully the owls will help

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    1. Hello Bill, It is a bit frustrating! Perhaps next year. We got two of the rats yesterday - one was very large, like a size 10 slipper. Traps and a quick end plus whatever the owls do - I saw our beautiful Barn Owl last night, he was doing his silent patrol.

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  3. How wonderful to get up so close to these wonderful birds! I love your photos. It's ages since I have seen an owl in flight. Fingers crossed the owls return to nest in Owls Wood. Have a lovely evening :)

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    1. Prunella, it was simply magical! Thank you.

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Lovely to hear from you.
I will try to answer comments in the next post.